Cover Crops

Overview

Cover crops are used to build soil organic matter, break up hard pans, provide ground cover to reduce erosion and offer competition to weeds. The preferred variety of cover crop species to grow depends on many factors, including:

Purpose of crop

Erosion management

Weed competition

Nitrogen contribution

Deep root penetration

Living mulch for the next crop

Time of the year

Frost seeded (February or March)

Spring/early Summer

Fall

Soil incorporation

Frost killed

Cultivate and incorporate

Crimping to break stems and begin breakdown (no-till)

Season length

Substantial cover for winter

Quick cover for early spring

Cover with opportunity to harvest for animals and organic matter

Cover Crop Management

Fact Sheet: Cover Crops – PDF
This fact sheet from the USDA Risk Management Agency defines cover crops and acceptable use or management of the crops.

SARE Managing Cover Crops Profitably – PDF
This document is published by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and addresses current theories and established management complexities related to the use of cover crops. An online text-version is also available for slower internet speeds.

Midwest Cover Crops Field Guide – PDF
This guide helps producers effectively select, grow, and use cover crops in their farming systems. It is meant to be a useful reference for those producers who want to prevent soil erosion, improve nutrient cycling, sustain their soils, and protect the environment. It includes cover crop suggestions for common rotations, up-and-coming cover crop species, effects on yields as well as climate considerations. For a sample of the second edition, download the above-listed PDF document or read more online.

Midwest Cover Crop Council
The MCCC facilitates widespread adoption of cover crops throughout the Midwest, offering training, research and policy resources on their website.

Cover Crops at Kellogg Biological Station
The Cover Crops Program at the Michigan State University Extension’s Agriculture and Agri-business Institute focuses on integrating cover crops into Michigan field crop systems and provides resources for its farmers.

Soybean Field Guide
This pocket-sized guide was created for soybean producers and soybean agronomists to use in the identification of soybean pests and diseases in the Midwest. To purchase this Iowa State Extension guide, please order online.

NRCS Cost-Sharing

NRCS: Conservation Planning – PDF
This pamphlet outlines the steps necessary to create a conservation plan, the starting point for managing natural resources and maintaining a productive capacity.

NRCS: Helping People Help the Land – PDF
NRCS provides financial assistance with conservation measures for all types of agricultural operations including row crops, livestock and dairy, forest and organic production.